News Feature: MVP — Most Valuable Professor

SHP’s McLay named Professor of the Year

Being a student-athlete is a full time job. Being a professor who accommodates the needs of a student-athlete is a life-long commitment. For athletes, earning the title MVP, most valuable player, is a major accomplishment. Now Barbara McLay, associate clinical professor of communication science and disorders (CSD), has earned that title too, but for her skills inside the classroom. McLay was named “Professor of the Year” by the University of Missouri athletic department.

Photo by Cheri Ghan
Barbara McLay, left, clinical associate professor and director of graduate studies, in the Department of Communication Science and Disorders, was named the athletic department’s “Professor of the Year” after being nominated by speech-language pathology student and MU soccer standout Michelle Collins, right.

McLay was nominated for the honor by CSD senior and Mizzou soccer standout Michelle Collins. The award recognizes a University professor who has gone beyond the call of duty, helping to assess the needs of a student-athlete. McLay received her award at the athletic department’s annual ROARS sports recognition event.

“You hear a lot of horror stories from other student-athletes about how some professors do not understand the athletic travel schedule, so naturally I was unsure how my professors would react when I first got into the CSD program,” says Collins. “Fortunately, Professor McLay, along with the rest of the CSD department faculty, was understanding and helpful to me when I needed it.”

Collins says McLay was always there for support, even during the most hectic times of the semester. “Professor McLay’s door remains open to her students at all times and she always makes it known that she is available for help when needed,” says Collins. “Needless to say, I wanted to honor her.”

The award not only meant a lot to Collins, but to McLay as well. “The award is special because it came from one of my students. It tells me that I’m doing something right and that I am making a difference in students’ lives,” says McLay.

McLay notes she isn’t the only one who has helped make SHP’s student-athletes such well rounded individuals. “I’ve taught five student athletes in my seventeen years at the University. In that time there has been a noticeable change in the Athletic Department’s focus on the complete student athlete,” says McLay. “More academic support services are available to student athletes now and a much closer watch is kept on student performance in the classroom.”

McLay adds it’s also important to note the hard work student-athletes put in, not only with their academics, but on the field as well. “I have great respect not only for their talent, but also for their ability to overcome the challenges of meeting both the academic and athletic demands placed on them,” says McLay.

Easy to see why this SHP professor is ranked at the top of her game by a student athlete who has given her all for Mizzou.

— Caitlin Dawdy